The Best of the Worst

In so many cases these days, it seems we are forced to vote for the best of the worst candidates.  We were talking about the mayoral race last weekend and that was what it boiled down to, neither of the candidates represented what we really wanted so we simply have to decide which would be the worst choice, as in take Portland backwards, and vote against him (yes, both candidates are men which is indeed unfortunate).

I'm hearing more and more about the need to allow more parties, for instance the Independent, the Libertarian and the Green parties to name a few, into our mainstream politics and I have to wonder if that might not help to alleviate the constant stalemates we see in Congress and in many state legislatures.

We've got to figure something out because with just the two represented, we are getting nowhere fast and it just isn't good for the country today or in the future.  Too many programs and people are suffering while Washington, D.C. languishes in their hatred of the other party and absolute refusal to compromise.

If Obama wins but we don't elect a House as well as a Senate Democratic majority, I would have to expect four more years of the same opposition, inactivity and indecision.  I know the President is frustrated with this and has tried to bend on some things but the Republican leadership has been blatant in their refusal to support any program or bill the President or the Democrats back, just because.

This isn't the only election where this has happened but unfortunately the polarization has become much more obvious and absolute.  Something fundamentally has to change, I hope it happens soon.  And no, that doesn't mean electing a Republican president and Congress; going backwards at this point in time is just what we don't need .